The Role of a Friend: Help with Funeral

Our family and friends help us get through the hardest times in
our lives. This is never more true than when we are faced with the
death of someone we love.

Letitia Baldrige, author, New
Manners for New Times: A Complete Guide to Etiquette,
suggests there are no limits when it comes to offering your help to
a family who is experiencing loss. "We never stop being the
recipients of love and help from friends. If you are a loving
person, you offer help whenever there is a need."

Ms. Baldrige suggests being prepared to move into action and
offer specific ways in which you can be of service.

Some suggestions on how to help could be:

Administrative matters

Notify the family attorney, clergy, social and business
associates

Be responsible for handling phone calls and taking
messages

Keep track of gifts, food offerings, letters of condolence,
flowers, etc so the family can send thank-you
notes

Create a Heart2Soul
Community, to make sure everyone can communicate and stay up to
date on arrangement information

Regardless of how well you know the family experiencing loss -
whether they are neighbors, community members, co-workers or a very
close friend - it's always appropriate to reach out and offer your
help.